If you are thinking about purchasing a home, there are several things you should do before you even start your home search. While it’s exciting to look at properties and imagine what your life will be like in a new house, you might be setting yourself up for disappointment and heartbreak if you aren’t prepared for all the steps involved in the home-buying process. So, do your homework and make sure you are truly ready to find the home of your dreams!

Determine What You Can Afford - You don’t want to find the perfect property and then find out it’s out of reach for you. Determine how much you can afford for a mortgage payment and create a maximum budget for what you are willing to pay for a house. Your mortgage payment should take up no more than 28% of your income. If you are currently paying rent or a mortgage payment that is less than what you anticipate for your future home, start saving the difference each month to make sure you are willing and able to live on that. You don’t want to be house poor. Home Affordability Calculator

Check Your Credit - You can request free credit reports from Annual Credit Report .com. Check the reports thoroughly for any errors or negative information. Take the steps needed to improve your credit score. A higher credit score will possibly qualify you for lower interest rates, which will make your purchase more affordable.

Meet with a Lender - Getting pre-approved for a mortgage is vital to the home-buying process, especially in a seller’s market where there might be bidding wars. Sellers are more likely to choose a potential buyer who has already been pre-approved over one who hasn’t. It will also help you identify the documents you will need for the final loan application.

Save For a Down Payment- Your meeting with the loan officer will also help you determine how much cash you will need for a down payment.

Get Organized - Gather documents you will need for your final loan application and start a house-hunting binder. As you start looking at homes, you can add any materials you collect along the way.

Start Considering Where You Want to Live - If you don’t already have a specific neighborhood in mind, start investigating different areas within your price range. Visit neighborhoods at different times to get a feel for what it might be like to live there. Consider things like what your work commute will be and what amenities you want.

Take aHome Buyer Education Course - If you are a first-time home buyer, these classes can help you prepare for the responsibilities of being a home owner.

Taking these steps before you start your home-search will make the whole home-buying process easier! Call Melissa Thompson at (901) 729-9526 and let her guide you through the home buying process today!

The annual Germantown International Festival will host tasty foods, exciting live performances, and more from cultures around the world. Over 35 different countries are expected to participate this year. Each participating country will have a booth showcasing arts, crafts, authentic food and more. There will be a stage for music, dance and cultural programs from some of the countries.

It’s that time of year again. Back to school. Curb chaotic mornings by organizing your kitchen in a way that makes lunch prep a breeze! The following tips will help:

MAKE A LIST

Don’t just wing it.By creating a menu of items that you will use for your kids’ lunches, you will not only save time in the mornings (because you won’t spend time trying to decide what to pack in their lunch bag), you will also have a handy, dandy shopping list for when you go grocery shopping.Here are some to get you started.

MAKE YOUR FRIDGE LUNCH BOX FRIENDLY

Organize the space in your refrigerator to make lunch prep quick and easy.Clear plastic bins with labels can be used to divide things up by type of food/drink or by day of the week.Experiment with these ideas and find the one that works best for you:

CREATE A STAGING CENTER

Have a designated spot in the kitchen for lunch prep.A basket or bin for lunch bags/boxes will mean that you will never be frantically searching for them in the morning.Have your kids empty them of containers/trash when they get home from school and place them in the designated area.Keep containers handy and make sure you have enough counter space to accommodate everything you will need.

HAVE A SUPPLY STATION

Clean out a drawer or cabinet near your staging center and keep all your lunch prep supplies in one spot.Stock up on baggies, containers, napkins, straws, plastic utensils, foil, saran wrap etc.

STOCK PANTRY WITH “SCHOOL LUNCH ONLY” ITEMS

Avoid the frustration of going to grab something for your child’s lunch only to discover there is none left.Create an area in your pantry that is only for school lunches.An over the door hanging shoe organizer is a great space-saver and can be used to store school snacks.

Whether you prepare your children’s lunches, or you have them do it themselves, being organized will make the process easier and quicker.

If you are in the market to buy or sell a home in the Memphis area, contact professional Realtor, Melissa Thompson and let her help you with all your real estate needs. Give her a call at 901-729-9526 today!

The festival will feature a variety of beers and a ton of local vendors. For $40, each guest will be granted admission as well as a souvenir glass and access to sample all of the beers. Food will be available in meal sizes at regular menu price, or snack sizes for $2-$3. Live music will also be playing throughout the event so it’s guaranteed to be a good time! Check out the details and get your tickets below.

Selling your home is a huge decision and one that should not be made impulsively. If you are thinking about selling, but you’re not sure if you should, here are some signs to look for that will indicate that now is a good time to sell:

- Space is an issue. Has your family grown since you bought your current home? Do you have multiple people sharing bedrooms and bathrooms? If your house is bursting at the seams, it might be time to let it go and find something a little bigger. Alternatively, perhaps you have too much space. If you bought the home when your family was large and now you are an empty nester, you may be ready to downsize.

- Neighbors are selling homes successfully. If houses are selling like hotcakes in your neighborhood and your neighbors are making tidy profits on their sales, then that’s a cue that you should contact a Realtor to find out what your home is worth on the current market.

- Interest rates are low. When interest rates are low it is an advantage to sellers because a larger pool of eligible buyers can be expected. Add to that the fact that the current inventory of homes for sale is low, and you have a seller’s market that will make your home even more desirable to prospective buyers.

- Remodeling won’t be worth it. Maybe you want to stay in your current home and you think that remodeling is the answer. But will the expense of remodeling to fulfill your wants and needs be worth it in the long run? Will it add value to your home? While you might have to do some updates to prepare your home for sale, if the market favors sellers, you might be better of selling and finding a new home to suit your needs.

- You’re confident the market is strong. It’s important to educate yourself about what’s going on in the real estate market before you decide to put your house on the market. An experienced Realtor like Melissa Thompson can help you understand the market and determine if now is the time to sell your house.

All signs are currently pointing at this being a good time to sell. Contact the professionals at Your Key to Memphis and they can help you get your house on the market and sold for the best possible price! Call them today at 901-756-8900.

Discover re-imagined down-home classics that can blow your grandma’s socks off, and wash them down with creative cocktails and craft beers from your favorite bartender.

Located in the south end of downtown on East Carolina Avenue, Carolina Watershed is probably one of the coolest uniquely constructed restaurants in town — it’s constructed from metal grain silos! But it’s so much more than the one-of-a-kind architecture.

“It all boils down to the atmosphere, the handcrafted cocktails and the locally sourced food,” explains owner Mac Hopper. Mac partnered with talented local chef Andy Knight to create a spot that has tasty dishes, craft beers and fun cocktails with a Southern spin. “Our food at Carolina Watershed is based on a Southern deli to which all of our sandwiches come with a Southern side — turnip greens, fried okra, black eyed peas, cornbread, etc.,” explains Andy of the menu.

Explore a playground for all ages that includes rocks, cascading waterfalls, cozy nooks, an overlook, and stage areas for live music.

A crew of friendly Shed-Heads — servers, bartenders, and kitchen pros — will be working hard to make your visit an experience to remember.

Presented By:

Melissa Thompson

For more information, contact Melissa Thompson at (901) 729-9526. Visit http://www.crye-leike.com/memphis/10032204 to view more pictures of this property. Sanctuary in the City! Enjoy Downtown Memphis Life in your 1 bedroom Condo with open floor plan, gleaming hardwood floors, gourmet kitchen with stainless steel appliances, spacious great room, lovely dining room, 2closets+extra storage room, in the fabulous Shrine building across from Bardog with panoramic view of the river from the roof top deck. Awesome indoor pool & fitness in basement complete with Sauna. Walk to U of M Law School, Redbirds stadium, restaurants & all the tourist attractions!

The Lost Art of Negotiation in the world of real estate is unfortunate because the truth of the matter is, if you don’t ask…you don’t get. While sellers want the highest price and buyers want the best deal, they must meet somewhere in the middle for the deal to close. Negotiation is a vital part of selling or buying a home because it is the largest asset people own and there is a lot of money at stake. Here are some guidelines for what sellers and buyers might ask for in real estate negotiations:

Price

Negotiating the best price means different things for sellers and buyers. The seller wants the highest price and the buyer wants to pay as little as possible. For a successful transaction, they must compromise and come up with a price that is acceptable to both.

Prepaid closing costs are paid by buyers for their mortgage. These are funds that the mortgage lender holds in escrow for expenses like taxes and insurance. A buyer may ask a seller to cover some or all their closing costs either with a flat dollar amount or up to a percentage of what’s an allowable contribution for a lender. If a buyer asks the seller to do this, they are likely going to pay a higher asking price.

Closing Date

Sometimes sellers want to get out of a home quickly because they need the capital from the house they are selling to put toward a new real estate purchase. The closing date will also affect the buyer’s monthly cash-flow because when a buyer closes on a house, they skip the next month’s mortgage payment, therefore they may want to negotiate to close at the beginning of a month.

Financing Contingencies

When there is a financing contingency in place for a real estate transaction, it can tie up a seller’s property for a required 30 to 60 days. For this reason, many sellers prefer buyers coming to the table with cash offers. If you are competing with cash buyers, you may want to figure out if you can drop the financial contingency, which will shorten the closing time line. You can do this by getting pre-approved for a home loan prior to making an offer. Mortgage Preapproval shows that your finances are in order and you can afford the home.

Home Warranty

As a buyer, you can request a home warranty. As a seller, you can offer one. This home protection plan covers things like appliances and systems such as the hot water heater or air conditioning, in the event they need repair or replacement.

Leaseback

The moving process is stressful and labor intensive. Sometimes a seller will need extra time to get into their new home. When this happens, buyers can offer a zero-cost rent-back for 30 to 90 days to persuade the seller to accept their offer over others.

Home Repairs

With a home that needs a lot of updating there comes ample opportunity for negotiation. Buyers need to consider the cost of bringing the home up to current standards and use the estimate of that cost to request a lower asking price. The seller, on the other hand, can specify that the house is being sold “as is” and not offer any repairs.

Appraisal Contingency

A seller can push for a buyer to waive the appraisal contingency, however, if for some reason the appraisal falls short of the expected amount, they need to be prepared for the amount of cash they might have to pay should the bank only be willing to lend them money based on the appraised value.

Furniture

Personal property such as patio furniture, window treatments and chandeliers are all up for grabs. The buyer can ask for these things to be included in the contract. Sellers need to determine what they are willing to leave behind. And any exclusions need to be specifically listed in the contract as well.

Appliances

Depending on the market, sellers don’t always leave every appliance for the buyer. They may include the dishwasher, stove and built in microwave in the contract but not the refrigerator, washer, and dryer. Sometimes they don’t want to give everything away up front so that they can use these as items for negotiation.

Inspection

When sellers waive inspection, they often find themselves with "buyer's remorse", but they can try to shorten the time frame for inspection, from ten days to five. However, today’s lending practices and the TILA RESPA Integrated Disclosure (TRID) make this hard to do.

Condo/Co-op Assessments

These are fees that are used to maintain common areas in a community. If there is an open assessment, it can become a negotiation between the buyer and seller as to who will pay for it.

If you are looking for a professional Realtor to negotiate the best deal for you, call Melissa Thompson at 901-756-8900 today and let her help you with all your real estate needs!

This summer pair the beauty of Shelby Farms Park with cocktails and treats.

Summer is now in full swing, but with temps scorching and schedules filling up with plans, it can be hard to find some time to sit and relax. Canoes and Cocktails happening at Shelby Farms Parkseeks to remedy this. Starting close to sunset each night, participants can join a relaxing and guided paddle on Hyde Lake concluded with cocktails and farm-to-table treats on the AutoZone Front Porch. Bring your own kayak/canoe or rent one at the Hyde Lake Boathouse.

Many people travel to visit family and friends during the summer. If you are expecting house guests, you will want to prepare your home so that is comfortable and welcoming. Here is a list of things to do before your guests arrive:

Buy Fresh Flowers - Even if you don’t keep fresh flowers in your home all the time, it’s nice to splurge a little to have them for your guests. You don’t have to spend a lot of money. You can often find lovely bunches of flowers at your local grocery store. If you have a green thumb and grow flowers in your yard, that’s even better! Just clip some and place them in pretty vases around the house.

Clean Out and Restock the Refrigerator - Get rid of any lurking left-overs as well as any condiments that have passed their expiration. Plan your meals for the duration of the visit and Stock the Fridge accordingly. Make sure you know your guests’ dietary needs and allergies prior to their arrival.

Make a Spare Key - Unless you plan to spend every second of the visit with your guests, you will want to give them a key so that they have the freedom to come and go if you are not home.

Have Extra Toothbrushes on Hand - You will be doing your guests a great favor by having extra personal items on hand in case they have forgotten something. There is nothing worse after arriving from a long trip than having to go back out to purchase forgotten items. Other items to have on hand: razors, deodorant, feminine hygiene products etc.

Clean Out the Guest Room Closet - If you’ve been using your guest room closet for storage, now is the time to clean it out. Even if you don’t clear it out completely, make sure there is enough space for your guests to store their bags and hang clothes.

Clean Up the Clutter - Having a cluttered home might be ok when it’s just you and your immediate family, but you will want to have a neat and tidy home for your guests. You don’t have to go overboard. You can leave out things you use daily, like the bag of dog food or the tv remotes. But put other extraneous items away for the duration of their stay.

Wipe the Ceiling Fan Blades - There are some things that often get overlooked in your normal cleaning routine. Make sure to wipe down the ceiling-fan blades along with other nooks and crannies you might have missed before. It’s also a good time to change your air filters if they haven’t recently been changed.

Replace Shower Curtain Liner - If you haven’t changed your shower curtain liner in the guest bathroom recently, check it to make sure there is no mildew. Liners are inexpensive and new one will give the bathroom a fresh feel.

Prepare Guest Bath - Speaking of the Guest Bathroom - make sure it is fully stocked with plenty of toilet paper, facial tissues, shampoo, conditioner and body wash. Splurge on some fragrant fancy soaps to place on the sink. Provide a stack of freshly laundered towels so that your guests don’t have to go looking for them.

Having guests in your home can be a little stressful sometimes. Preparing for their visit ahead of time will alleviate some of that stress so that you can enjoy their visit to the fullest!

If you are in the market to buy or sell a home in the Memphis area, contact professional Realtor, Melissa Thompson and let her help you with all your real estate needs. Give her a call at 901-729-9526 today!

An event highlighting the best vegan chefs and restaurants from the Mid-South and the surrounding areas. Any thing and everything imaginable in the vegan culinary world will be there. These vegan vendors will be there ready to please your tastebuds on your journey through the infinite possibilities of the vegan world. The focus of this event is just the vegan chefs and their food. There will be no event-wide food demonstrations. Each vendor has free-will at their vending booth though so, there are infinite experience possibilities. And yes, the food is for sale at each booth.

For more information, contact Melissa Thompson at (901) 729-9526. Visit http://www.crye-leike.com/memphis/10031127 to view more pictures of this property. Look No Further...This Amazing All on One Level, 4BR, 2.5 BA Home Situated on a Nice Corner Lot in Prestigious Germantown is It!Cool Off in the Sparkling In-Ground Pool or Relax Under the Covered Patio. Cooking will be a Delight in the Updated Eat-In Kitchen Equipped w/Desirable Granite Countertops & Full Complement of Appl(Double Oven).Snuggle Up Beside the Romantic Fireplace in the Spacious Great Rm.Enjoy Comfortable Everyday Living in the Living Rm.Host Dinner Parties in the Lovely Dining Rm.

]]>http://www.yourkeytomemphis.com/Blog/Because-You-Deserve-It-810-Lark-Hill-Covehttp://www.yourkeytomemphis.com/Blog/Because-You-Deserve-It-810-Lark-Hill-CoveTue, 10 Jul 2018 02:00:00 GMTFinding the Right Home for You and Your Family

Purchasing a home is such a huge decision, you definitely want it to be the right one. Before even starting the home search process, it’s important to think about what it is you want from your new home.

For many the location of a property is the priority. Perhaps you have your heart set on a charming neighborhood that you have always loved. Or maybe you want a specific school district for your children. Whatever the reason, location is as important financially as it is emotionally. You are making an investment and future resale value should be taken into consideration. Figuring out where you want to live is the first step in finding the house that is right for you and your family. Once you have an idea of where you want to live, you may discover that you might have to compromise a bit on the type of house you want. For example, perhaps you like the idea of a ranch style home with a big yard, but there is nothing like that available in the area you chose. If your priority is a certain style of home, you may have to compromise on the location. Location: The Most Important Factor in Real Estate

Looking for a home based on architectural style can be challenging, especially if you are moving to a new area that you are not familiar with. One way to do it is to use the key word option on real estate search sites to type in descriptive words. Once again, you may have to adjust your expectations because you might find a house you love in a neighborhood that you don’t like so much. Perhaps new construction is the way to go for you. That way you can choose where you want to live and build to your specifications. 26 Popular Architectural Home Styles

Often finances will dictate where you can search for a house based on what you can afford. If you’re handy and don’t mind the idea of a fixer-upper, you might be able to find a diamond in the rough for a great price. Just keep in mind the future expenses of renovating it. If a move-in ready home is what you’re looking for, maybe you should consider a town-home or condo, especially if the amenities that often come with those types of homes appeal to you.

There are so many questions to ask yourself before you begin looking for a house. Do you want a big yard or do you hate yard work? Do you want to be able to walk to restaurants and shops or do you prefer country living? Do you mind a long commute to your job or do you want to live near where you work? Take time to think these things through before you start your home search. Trust me, it will go more smoothly and be much more enjoyable if you go into it knowing what you want!

If you are in the market to buy or sell a home in the Memphis area, contact professional Realtor, Melissa Thompson and let her help you with all your real estate needs. Give her a call at 901-729-9526 today!